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Brass and Gold

Brass

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.

brass
n 1: an alloy of copper and zinc
2: a wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of
variable length) blown by means of a cup-shaped or
funnel-shaped mouthpiece
3: the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up
a body for the purpose of administering something; "he
claims that the present administration is corrupt"; "the
governance of an association is responsible to its
members"; "he quickly became recognized as a member of the
establishment" [syn: {administration}, {governance}, {governing
body}, {establishment}, {organization}, {organisation}]
4: impudent aggressiveness; "I couldn't believe her boldness";
"he had the effrontery to question my honesty" [syn: {boldness},
{nerve}, {face}, {cheek}]
5: an ornament or utensil made of brass
6: the section of a band or orchestra that plays brass
instruments [syn: {brass section}]
7: a memorial made of brass [syn: {memorial tablet}, {plaque}]

Brass \Brass\, n.; pl. {Brasses}. [OE. bras, bres, AS. br[ae]s;
akin to Icel. bras cement, solder, brasa to harden by fire,
and to E. braze, brazen. Cf. 1st & 2d {Braze}.]
1. An alloy (usually yellow) of copper and zinc, in variable
proportion, but often containing two parts of copper to
one part of zinc. It sometimes contains tin, and rarely
other metals.
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2. (Mach.) A journal bearing, so called because frequently
made of brass. A brass is often lined with a softer metal,
when the latter is generally called a white metal lining.
See {Axle box}, {Journal Box}, and {Bearing}.
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3. Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze. [Obs.]
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Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your
purses, nor scrip for your journey. --Matt. x. 9.
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4. Impudence; a brazen face. [Colloq.]
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5. pl. Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass.
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The very scullion who cleans the brasses.
--Hopkinson.
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6. A brass plate engraved with a figure or device.
Specifically, one used as a memorial to the dead, and
generally having the portrait, coat of arms, etc.
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7. pl. (Mining) Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the
color of which is near to that of brass.
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Note: The word brass as used in Sculpture language is a
translation for copper or some kind of bronze.
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Note: Brass is often used adjectively or in self-explaining
compounds; as, brass button, brass kettle, brass
founder, brass foundry or brassfoundry.
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{Brass band} (Mus.), a band of musicians who play upon wind
instruments made of brass, as trumpets, cornets, etc.
{Brass foil}, {Brass leaf}, brass made into very thin sheets;
-- called also {Dutch gold}.
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Brass
which is an alloy of copper and zinc, was not known till the
thirteenth century. What is designated by this word in Scripture
is properly copper (Deut. 8:9). It was used for fetters (Judg.
16:21; 2 Kings 25:7), for pieces of armour (1 Sam. 17:5, 6), for
musical instruments (1 Chr. 15:19; 1 Cor. 13:1), and for money
(Matt. 10:9).
It is a symbol of insensibility and obstinacy in sin (Isa.
48:4; Jer. 6:28; Ezek. 22:18), and of strength (Ps. 107:16;
Micah 4:13).
The Macedonian empire is described as a kingdom of brass (Dan.
2:39). The "mountains of brass" Zechariah (6:1) speaks of have
been supposed to represent the immutable decrees of God.
The serpent of brass was made by Moses at the command of God
(Num. 21:4-9), and elevated on a pole, so that it might be seen
by all the people when wounded by the bite of the serpents that
were sent to them as a punishment for their murmurings against
God and against Moses. It was afterwards carried by the Jews
into Canaan, and preserved by them till the time of Hezekiah,
who caused it to be at length destroyed because it began to be
viewed by the people with superstitious reverence (2 Kings
18:4). (See {NEHUSHTAN}.)
The brazen serpent is alluded to by our Lord in John 3:14, 15.
(See {SERPENT}.)

Related comparisons

Gold

Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. It is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79.

gold
adj 1: made from or covered with gold; "gold coins"; "the gold dome
of the Capitol"; "the golden calf"; "gilded icons"
[syn: {golden}, {gilded}]
2: having the deep slightly brownish color of gold; "long
aureate (or golden) hair"; "a gold carpet" [syn: {aureate},
{gilded}, {gilt}, {golden}]
n 1: coins made of gold
2: a deep yellow color; "an amber light illuminated the room";
"he admired the gold of her hair" [syn: {amber}]
3: a soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent)
metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and
alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but
is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia [syn: {Au}, {atomic
number 79}]
4: great wealth; "Whilst that for which all virtue now is sold,
and almost every vice--almighty gold"--Ben Jonson
5: something likened to the metal in brightness or preciousness
or superiority etc.; "the child was as good as gold"; "she
has a heart of gold"

Watch \Watch\ (w[o^]ch), n. [OE. wacche, AS. w[ae]cce, fr.
wacian to wake; akin to D. wacht, waak, G. wacht, wache.
[root]134. See {Wake}, v. i. ]
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1. The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful,
vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close
observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance;
formerly, a watching or guarding by night.
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Shepherds keeping watch by night. --Milton.
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All the long night their mournful watch they keep.
--Addison.
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Note: Watch was formerly distinguished from ward, the former
signifying a watching or guarding by night, and the
latter a watching, guarding, or protecting by day
Hence, they were not unfrequently used together,
especially in the phrase to keep watch and ward, to
denote continuous and uninterrupted vigilance or
protection, or both watching and guarding. This
distinction is now rarely recognized, watch being used
to signify a watching or guarding both by night and by
day, and ward, which is now rarely used, having simply
the meaning of guard, or protection, without reference
to time.
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Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and
ward. --Spenser.
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Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly applied to
the daytime, in order to apprehend rioters, and
robbers on the highway . . . Watch, is properly
applicable to the night only, . . . and it begins
when ward ends, and ends when that begins.
--Blackstone.
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2. One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body
of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.
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Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way,
make it as sure as ye can. --Matt. xxvii.
65.
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3. The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a
watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
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He upbraids Iago, that he made him
Brave me upon the watch. --Shak.
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4. The period of the night during which a person does duty as
a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a
sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.
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I did stand my watch upon the hill. --Shak.
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Might we but hear . . .
Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock
Count the night watches to his feathery dames.
--Milton.
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5. A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the
person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.
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Note: Watches are often distinguished by the kind of
escapement used, as an {anchor watch}, a {lever watch},
a {chronometer watch}, etc. (see the Note under
{Escapement}, n., 3); also, by the kind of case, as a
{gold} or {silver watch}, an {open-faced watch}, a
{hunting watch}, or {hunter}, etc.
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6. (Naut.)
(a) An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for
standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf.
{Dogwatch}.
(b) That part, usually one half, of the officers and crew,
who together attend to the working of a vessel for an
allotted time, usually four hours. The watches are
designated as the {port watch}, and the {starboard
watch}.
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{Anchor watch} (Naut.), a detail of one or more men who keep
watch on deck when a vessel is at anchor.
{To be on the watch}, to be looking steadily for some event.
{Watch and ward} (Law), the charge or care of certain
officers to keep a watch by night and a guard by day in
towns, cities, and other districts, for the preservation
of the public peace. --Wharton. --Burrill.
{Watch and watch} (Naut.), the regular alternation in being
on watch and off watch of the two watches into which a
ship's crew is commonly divided.
{Watch barrel}, the brass box in a watch, containing the
mainspring.
{Watch bell} (Naut.), a bell struck when the half-hour glass
is run out, or at the end of each half hour. --Craig.
{Watch bill} (Naut.), a list of the officers and crew of a
ship as divided into watches, with their stations.
--Totten.
{Watch case}, the case, or outside covering, of a watch;
also, a case for holding a watch, or in which it is kept.
{Watch chain}. Same as {watch guard}, below.
{Watch clock}, a watchman's clock; see under {Watchman}.
{Watch fire}, a fire lighted at night, as a signal, or for
the use of a watch or guard.
{Watch glass}.
(a) A concavo-convex glass for covering the face, or dial,
of a watch; -- also called {watch crystal}.
(b) (Naut.) A half-hour glass used to measure the time of
a watch on deck.
{Watch guard}, a chain or cord by which a watch is attached
to the person.
{Watch gun} (Naut.), a gun sometimes fired on shipboard at 8
p. m., when the night watch begins.
{Watch light}, a low-burning lamp used by watchers at night;
formerly, a candle having a rush wick.
{Watch night}, The last night of the year; -- so called by
the Methodists, Moravians, and others, who observe it by
holding religious meetings lasting until after midnight.
{Watch paper}, an old-fashioned ornament for the inside of a
watch case, made of paper cut in some fanciful design, as
a vase with flowers, etc.
{Watch tackle} (Naut.), a small, handy purchase, consisting
of a tailed double block, and a single block with a hook.
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Gold \Gold\ (g[=o]ld), Golde \Golde\, Goolde \Goolde\
(g[=oo]ld), n. (Bot.)
An old English name of some yellow flower, -- the marigold
({Calendula}), according to Dr. Prior, but in Chaucer perhaps
the turnsole.
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Gold \Gold\ (g[=o]ld), n. [AS. gold; akin to D. goud, OS. & G.
gold, Icel. gull, Sw. & Dan. guld, Goth. gul[thorn], Russ. &
OSlav. zlato; prob. akin to E. yellow. [root]49, 234. See
{Yellow}, and cf. {Gild}, v. t.]
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1. (Chem.) A metallic element of atomic number 79,
constituting the most precious metal used as a common
commercial medium of exchange. It has a characteristic
yellow color, is one of the heaviest substances known
(specific gravity 19.32), is soft, and very malleable and
ductile. It is quite unalterable by heat (melting point
1064.4[deg] C), moisture, and most corrosive agents, and
therefore well suited for its use in coin and jewelry.
Symbol Au ({Aurum}). Atomic weight 196.97.
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Note: Native gold contains usually eight to ten per cent of
silver, but often much more. As the amount of silver
increases, the color becomes whiter and the specific
gravity lower. Gold is very widely disseminated, as in
the sands of many rivers, but in very small quantity.
It usually occurs in quartz veins (gold quartz), in
slate and metamorphic rocks, or in sand and alluvial
soil, resulting from the disintegration of such rocks.
It also occurs associated with other metallic
substances, as in auriferous pyrites, and is combined
with tellurium in the minerals petzite, calaverite,
sylvanite, etc. Pure gold is too soft for ordinary use,
and is hardened by alloying with silver and copper, the
latter giving a characteristic reddish tinge. [See
{Carat}.] Gold also finds use in gold foil, in the
pigment purple of Cassius, and in the chloride, which
is used as a toning agent in photography.
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2. Money; riches; wealth.
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For me, the gold of France did not seduce. --Shak.
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3. A yellow color, like that of the metal; as, a flower
tipped with gold.
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4. Figuratively, something precious or pure; as, hearts of
gold. --Shak.
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{Age of gold}. See {Golden age}, under {Golden}.
{Dutch gold}, {Fool's gold}, {Gold dust}, etc. See under
{Dutch}, {Dust}, etc.
{Gold amalgam}, a mineral, found in Columbia and California,
composed of gold and mercury.
{Gold beater}, one whose occupation is to beat gold into gold
leaf.
{Gold beater's skin}, the prepared outside membrane of the
large intestine of the ox, used for separating the leaves
of metal during the process of gold-beating.
{Gold beetle} (Zo["o]l.), any small gold-colored beetle of
the family {Chrysomelid[ae]}; -- called also {golden
beetle}.
{Gold blocking}, printing with gold leaf, as upon a book
cover, by means of an engraved block. --Knight.
{Gold cloth}. See {Cloth of gold}, under {Cloth}.
{Gold Coast}, a part of the coast of Guinea, in West Africa.
{Gold cradle}. (Mining) See {Cradle}, n., 7.
{Gold diggings}, the places, or region, where gold is found
by digging in sand and gravel from which it is separated
by washing.
{Gold end}, a fragment of broken gold or jewelry.
{Gold-end man}.
(a) A buyer of old gold or jewelry.
(b) A goldsmith's apprentice.
(c) An itinerant jeweler. ``I know him not: he looks like
a gold-end man.'' --B. Jonson.
{Gold fever}, a popular mania for gold hunting.
{Gold field}, a region in which are deposits of gold.
{Gold finder}.
(a) One who finds gold.
(b) One who empties privies. [Obs. & Low] --Swift.
{Gold flower}, a composite plant with dry and persistent
yellow radiating involucral scales, the {Helichrysum
St[oe]chas} of Southern Europe. There are many South
African species of the same genus.
{Gold foil}, thin sheets of gold, as used by dentists and
others. See {Gold leaf}.
{Gold knobs} or {Gold knoppes} (Bot.), buttercups.
{Gold lace}, a kind of lace, made of gold thread.
{Gold latten}, a thin plate of gold or gilded metal.
{Gold leaf}, gold beaten into a film of extreme thinness, and
used for gilding, etc. It is much thinner than gold foil.
{Gold lode} (Mining), a gold vein.
{Gold mine}, a place where gold is obtained by mining
operations, as distinguished from diggings, where it is
extracted by washing. Cf. {Gold diggings} (above).
{Gold nugget}, a lump of gold as found in gold mining or
digging; -- called also a {pepito}.
{Gold paint}. See {Gold shell}.
{Gold pheasant}, or {Golden pheasant}. (Zo["o]l.) See under
{Pheasant}.
{Gold plate}, a general name for vessels, dishes, cups,
spoons, etc., made of gold.
{Mosaic gold}. See under {Mosaic}.
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gold
Symbol: Au
Atomic number: 79
Atomic weight: 196.96655
Gold is gold colored. It is the most malleable and ductile metal known.
There is only one stable isotope of gold, and five radioisotopes of gold,
Au-195 being the most stable with a half-life of 186 days. Gold is used
as a monetary standard, in jewelry, dentistry, electronics. Au-198 is used
in treating cancer and some other medical conditions. Gold has been known
to exist as far back as 2600 BC. Gold comes from the Anglo-Saxon word gold.
Its symbol, Au, comes from the Latin word aurum, which means gold. Gold is
not particularly toxic, however it is known to cause damage to the liver
and kidneys in some.

Gold
(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1
Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).
(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or
treasured up; thus precious or "fine gold" (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).
(3.) Heb. paz, native or pure gold (Job 28:17; Ps. 19:10;
21:3, etc.).
(4.) Heb. betzer, "ore of gold or silver" as dug out of the
mine (Job 36:19, where it means simply riches).
(5.) Heb. kethem, i.e., something concealed or separated (Job
28:16,19; Ps. 45:9; Prov. 25:12). Rendered "golden wedge" in
Isa. 13:12.
(6.) Heb. haruts, i.e., dug out; poetic for gold (Prov. 8:10;
16:16; Zech. 9:3).
Gold was known from the earliest times (Gen. 2:11). It was
principally used for ornaments (Gen. 24:22). It was very
abundant (1 Chr. 22:14; Nah. 2:9; Dan. 3:1). Many tons of it
were used in connection with the temple (2 Chr. 1:15). It was
found in Arabia, Sheba, and Ophir (1 Kings 9:28; 10:1; Job
28:16), but not in Palestine.
In Dan. 2:38, the Babylonian Empire is spoken of as a "head of
gold" because of its great riches; and Babylon was called by
Isaiah (14:4) the "golden city" (R.V. marg., "exactress,"
adopting the reading _marhebah_, instead of the usual word
_madhebah_).